CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.  Democratic congressional candidate Mary Headrick is trying to turn her lopsided fundraising disadvantage to her favor in her bid to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the 3rd Congressional District.

Headrick tells the Chattanooga Times Free Press that she hopes Fleischmann’s 8-to-1 campaign cash lead will cause him to relax and let his guard down.

Fleischmann had more than $106,000 in general fund contributions on hand through the last fundraising report in mid-July, while Headrick said she had about $13,000 remaining.

Democrats haven’t held the 3rd District seat that now includes all or part of 11 East Tennessee counties since 1992. Headrick hopes to break that trend through a grass roots strategy.

A Fleischmann spokesman said the congressman is confident about his campaign’s prospects.